My Signature Sampler Week #2

My Signature Sampler Week #2

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I'm so excited by how many of you will be sewing along with me on the My Signature Sampler quilting sew along!

I've been anxious to make a sampler quilt with my new Signature fabric for Art Gallery Fabrics so I came up with an idea for a sampler sew along that will be as fun for me as it is for you! The bright idea is to utilize all the block instructions from the Sewcial Bee Sampler (SBS), Community Sampler (CS), AGF Quilt Block Collection (AGF), and the blocks from the Quilter's Planner magazine (QP) and let you be the designer! 

Using the previously written PDFs from my past sew alongs, the AGF block tutorials, and the beautifully written and illustrated Quilter's Planner block of the month instructions allows me more free time for other sewing and designing matters. Each week I will provide links to the various blocks I put into my sampler and if I've made any variations to the original block instructions I will give you that information in the blog post.

Remember, you can always refer back to the Sewcial Bee Sampler and Community Sampler blog post tutorials the accompanied each past sew along block by using the search bar at the top of this blog. There you will get additional information on how to piece each block or technique. 

If you need extra help with your patchwork or would like to learn how to control the direction of your prints in half-square triangle units and other piecing techniques, visit my Tutorials page for lots of great tutorials all in one place. 

For a listing of online shops that carry my Signature and other AGF collections, visit my Fabrics page.

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If you're just joining, let me tell you a bit about this sew along: You can create your own sampler quilt or sew along with me as I make my sampler. I've made a handy-dandy fabric and coloring book page for you if you want to make a quilt with the same blocks as mine. Both the colored (fabric) version and blank version have a block list that contains the block's sources and week order in four columns below the illustration. I've even included fabric information for the materials I'll be sewing with on the colored (fabric) version. Find the coloring pages on the My Signature Sampler Begins post.

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For this week's block I've made the Friendship Star from the Sewcial Bee Sampler. Download the instructions from the Sew Along page. To get this block up to a 12-1/2" square I followed the instructions and added a frame around the pieced block in the new AGF Pure Elements Flamingo solid.

SPONSORS

GIVEAWAY

Every Friday when I reveal a new block to My Signature Sampler, I'll also be posting the weekly giveaway. 

This week's giveaway comes from me. I'll be sending a lucky winner a Castle Garden quilt patterns and a signed copy of my book, Utility-Style Quilts for Everyday Living.

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Starting July 1st, 2018 I'll be listing a limited number of hard copy patterns of the Castle Garden quilt to my STORE page. This quilt pattern was written and made by me exclusively for the May Quilter's Candy Box collaboration with Maureen Cracknell's AGF Flower Child fabrics

Castle Garden by Sharon Holland

Castle Garden by Sharon Holland

My quilt design couldn't have been anymore perfect for Maureen's magical fabric collection of a world filled with lush meadows, wild bouquets & the spirit of the flower child painted with fuchsia, blush pink & teal. The name for this quilt came to me once I placed the crowned girls in the center of the castles, complete with peach bunting flags!

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The second part to this giveaway is a signed copy of my book, Utility-Style Quilts for Everyday Living

Utility-Style Quilts for Everyday Living by (moi) Sharon Holland (Landauer Publishing 2017) is as much a lifestyle book as it is an 80-page, beginner-friendly guide to patchwork. Find easy-to-follow instructions, beautiful photos, fully illustrated step-by-step essential techniques and information to stitch 12 different quilt projects from beginning to end.

Each project is fast-pieced and encourages creative changes with skill-building design tips throughout. The lovely patterns are a reason for you to dig into your stash to make quilts you love. 

Tracery Rose by Sharon Holland

Tracery Rose by Sharon Holland

I had the great please to remake the Tracery quilt from my book in my new Signature fabric collection. It was so much fun and by flipping the lights and darks from the original quilt I've come up with a completely different look and vibe to this vibrant variation. I want to find time to remake all the quilts from my book because--there's so much yet to explore!

Tracery Rose Quilt.jpg

Giveaway Now Closed. Congratulations to Marianne!

Note: This giveaway is open to EVERYONE! If you're a "no reply" or anonymous commenter, please remember to include your email address in your comment--you can't win if I can't get a hold of you!

1. Simply leave a comment here under this post! (First comment entry).

2. Follow me on Instagram or Pinterest. Just let me know that you did by making a separate comment here to record that entry. (Separate comment-second entry). 

3. My blog followers get a third entry! If you follow via subscribing to my posts, just let me know by making a separate comment here to record that entry. (Separate comment-third entry).

4. Help spread the word!! I know that many of you already do, so I thought it would be nice to add that as another way to enter! Spread the word about the My Signature Sampler sew along on YOUR instagram, Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest by pinning any of my pretty images in this post, etc... (separate comment-fourth entry). 

That’s FOUR possible entries! Enter now through Monday, July 2nd! The winner will be picked at random around 4pm Eastern. I will post the name of the winner on this post once they've been notified and responded to my email.

*Don't forget to enter into this same giveaway on Instagram by posting images of your sampler inspiration, sampler fabric pull, blocks, or posting the My Signature Sampler badge (below). Use the official #mysignaturesampler hashtag every time you post about this sew along on IG to better your chances of winning. See my Instagram giveaway post @sharonhollanddesigns for full details. 
P.S. To Maxime Suchoski, I need you to contact me (use the contact from to email me) about being last week's fat quarter bundle winner. Your fabrics are waiting to be shipped!
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My Signature Sampler Begins

My Signature Sampler Begins

My Signature Sampler Rolls.jpg

You've nearly finished or better yet, you've finished both your Sewcial Bee Sampler and Community Sampler, now what? During those sew alongs, did you find yourself saying "This is my favorite block, yet!" or "I could make a whole quilt from this block!" Well, now's your chance to explore those blocks further and even try out some new blocks.

I've been anxious to make a sampler quilt with my new Signature fabric for Art Gallery Fabrics so I came up with an idea for a sampler sew along that will be as fun for me as it is for you! The bright idea is to utilize all the block instructions from the Sewcial Bee Sampler (SBS), Community Sampler (CS), AGF Quilt Block Collection (AGF), and the blocks from the Quilter's Planner magazine (QP) and let you be the designer! 

You can create your own sampler quilt or sew along with me as I make my sampler. I've made a handy-dandy fabric and coloring book page for you if you want to make a quilt with the same blocks as mine. Both the colored (fabric) version and blank version have a block list that contains the block's sources and week order in four columns below the illustration. I've even included fabric information for the materials I'll be sewing with on the colored (fabric) version.

Click image to download fabrics page

Click image to download fabrics page

Since this is not a structured sew along like in the past two events I cannot possibly know everyones fabric requirements as quilt block selection and sizes will vary. The following is a close proximity of material required for a sampler like the one I will be making. I've figured fat quarters for easy reference but this is a generous figure. All blocks are 12-1/2'' unfinished, that includes the frames on some of the blocks.

My Signature Sampler Material List:

  • Fourteen assorted fat quarters for blocks
  • 1-1/2 yards for center setting triangles
  • 1-1/4 yards for outer edge setting triangles
  • 1/2 yard for binding
  • 4-1/4 yards for backing
  • 74'' square batting
Click image to download coloring book page

Click image to download coloring book page

By having this multitude of blocks available to you at the beginning of the sew along, you're able to work at your own pace. Maybe you want to make all the blocks in one week--that would be amazing! Or, maybe you prefer a one-block-a-week approach and spend more time outdoors with the kids--totally cool!

Whatever your schedule or goal for your quilt design it's up to you--the designer. By me organizing and hosting a sew along for this freeform-style sampler, it keeps you motivated and sharing your progress on Instagram (which keeps you in the running for the weekly IG giveaway prizes!)*

Photo by Sharon Holland

Photo by Sharon Holland

My Signature fabrics are all about the natural world and gardens. I want my quilt to capture the abundance of flowers now blooming in my yard so I can celebrate this same joy all year round and this flat lay photo of cuttings from my yard is my inspiration for my fabric selections.

Sunflower block featuring Signature fabrics from the AGF Quilt Block Collection

Sunflower block featuring Signature fabrics from the AGF Quilt Block Collection

This entire sew along concept came after I made my own version of the above Sunflower block from the AGF Quilt Block Collection. If you'd like to add this block to your sampler, use the provided link to watch a You Tube tutorial for how it's pieced as well as detailed cutting instructions on the drop down More feature in the text. 

Block #1 - My Signature Sampler

Block #1 - My Signature Sampler

Using the previously written PDFs for past samplers, AGF block tutorials, and the beautifully written and illustrated Quilter's Planner block of the month instructions that frees me up from writing and let's me have more fun this time around. Each week I will provide links to the various blocks I put into my sampler and if I've made any variations to the original block instructions I will give you that information in the blog post.

Remember, you can always refer back to the Sewcial Bee Sampler and Community Sampler blog post tutorials the accompanied each past sew along block by using the search bar at the top of this blog. There you will get additional information on how to piece each block or technique. 

If you need extra help with your patchwork or would like to learn how to control the direction of your prints in half-square triangle units and other piecing techniques, visit my Tutorials page for lots of great tutorials all in one place. 

For a listing of online shops that carry my Signature collection, visit my Fabrics page.

Sponsors

Due to putting this sew along together so quickly, I'm still waiting to hear back from some sponsors. Expect this already impressive list of generous sponsors to fill out over the next couple of weeks.

Giveaway

Every Friday when I reveal a new block to My Signature Sampler, I'll also be posting the weekly giveaway. 

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To get you sewing on the right foot and entice you to sew your sampler with Signature fabrics (wink, wink) I'm giving away a 20-piece fat quarter bundle of my Signature fabrics for Art Gallery Fabric plus an additional fat quarter of Perennial Printemps (not shown in image above) for a total of 21 fat quarters!

This lucsious Signature collection comes in two color ways. On the left is the Foliar color way of coral, yellow, and forest greens. The stack on the right is called the Atmospheric color way and is cooler tones of turquoise, teal, fuchsia, and pink.

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I've mixed a bit from both color ways into my sampler and added the recolored Printemps Fusions version of my Bountiful Perennial print (shown above on the bolt) to bring in more yellow to go with the Signature Lacey Cosmos print (top right).  

This Giveaway is now CLOSED. Congratulations to Maxime Suchoski!

Note: This giveaway is open to EVERYONE! If you're a "no reply" or anonymous commenter, please remember to include your email address in your comment--you can't win if I can't get a hold of you!

1. Simply leave a comment here under this post! (First comment entry).

2. Follow me on Instagram or Pinterest. Just let me know that you did by making a separate comment here to record that entry. (Separate comment-second entry). 

3. My blog followers get a third entry! If you follow via subscribing to my posts, just let me know by making a separate comment here to record that entry. (Separate comment-third entry).

4. Help spread the word!! I know that many of you already do, so I thought it would be nice to add that as another way to enter! Spread the word about the My Signature Sampler sew along on YOUR instagram, Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, blog post, etc... (separate comment-fourth entry). 

That’s FOUR possible entries! Enter now through Monday, June 25th! The winner will be picked at random around 4pm Eastern. I will post the name of the winner on this post once they've been notified and responded to my email.

*Don't forget to enter into this same giveaway on Instagram by posting images of your sampler inspiration, sampler fabric pull, blocks, or posting the My Signature Sampler badge (below). Use the official #mysignaturesampler hashtag every time you post about this sew along on IG to better your chances of winning. See my Instagram giveaway post @sharonhollanddesigns for full details. 
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Thanks for sewing along with me!

xxxx Sharon

Community Sampler Giveaway Week #15

Community Sampler Giveaway Week #15

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Each Friday, throughout the Community Sampler sew-along, that Maureen Cracknell and myself are co-hosting, will be a Giveaway Friday. We've coordinated special giveaway prizes with our amazing participating sponsors for each and every week! If you've happened to miss the first Community Sampler posts, take a look back from the first post Community Sampler Week #1 to get caught up to the present. Feel free to start sewing with us at anytime--it's never too late to join in, and it's free! 

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COMMUNITY SAMPLER SPONSORS

TODAY'S FEATURED Community Sampler SPONSOR IS OMNIGRID!

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Omnigrid® is a family of measuring and cutting products. When Omnigrid® tools are used together they provide quilters, sewists and DIY aficionados with unsurpassed accuracy and quality. A product concept born of the genius of Peggy and Randy Schafer, Omnigrid® products work behind the scenes allowing makers to flawlessly bring their creations to fruition. - See more at: Omnigrid!


Products  *  Projects and Patterns  *  Instagram  *  Pinterest 

We hope you enjoy visiting Omnigrid!

For this week's Community Sampler Giveaway, Ominigrid is offering an incredible prize! Both the blog and Instagram winner will receive all of the wonderful Omnigrid sewing/quilting products shown below! Due to the oversized nature of this prize we will have to limit the drawing to winners within the United States only (see entry rules).

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THIS PRIZE PACK INCLUDES:  

2050 45mm rotary cutter * R24 6” x 24” ruler * 18 x 24 cutting mat *  R1 1” x 6” ruler *  2045 28mm rotary cutter * 2051 45mm blade replacement * 2046 28mm blade replacement * Thread Snips * 2-1/2'' x 2-1/2'' ruler 

Thank you Omnigrid for this generous prize!

ENTER TO WIN!

Here's how: Since Maureen and I are taking turns hosting the Community Sampler Giveaway Fridays, this week I'm sending you to Maureen Cracknell's blog to enter! 

Sorry, international friends, due to the oversized nature of this prize we need to limit this drawing to entrants with U.S. addresses for this giveaway.

A BIG thanks to all of you who are joining the Community Sampler sew-along and to those who enter our Giveaway!  ♡ Sharon

Community Sampler Giveaway Week #14

Community Sampler Giveaway Week #14

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Each Friday, throughout the Community Sampler sew-along, that Maureen Cracknell and myself are co-hosting, will be a Giveaway Friday. We've coordinated special giveaway prizes with our amazing participating sponsors for each and every week! If you've happened to miss the first Community Sampler posts, take a look back from the first post Community Sampler Week #1 to get caught up to the present. Feel free to start sewing with us at anytime--it's never too late to join in, and it's free! 

COMMUNITY SAMPLER SPONSORS

TODAY'S FEATURED COMMUNITY SAMPLER IS SPONSOR IS ART GALLERY FABRICS AND Hobbs Batting!

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Art Gallery Fabrics was started in 2004. Since then creativity, beauty, and design have been their passions, and to this day, they have not changed, bringing a chic and modern perspective to the quilting industry.

When it comes to designing a fabric collection we always keep originality and uniqueness on the top of our list. We have the pleasure of working with a talented fabric designers who create enticing color palettes and artful, intricate prints that make our collections one of a kind. Art Gallery designs modern fabrics that keep up with ongoing trends and at the same time it encourages our customers to use new colors and patterns so they venture out of their usual comfort zone.

At Art Gallery Fabrics believes strongly in the quality of the fabric and that is transcended in their superior thread count and fine weave. This makes our premium cotton as soft and smooth you can get. You really feel the difference with just one touch!

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 Art Gallery Fabrics is offering this gorgeous ten-piece pink & blue fat quarter bundle with prints from various AGF designers! Be sure to follow Art Gallery Fabrics on all their social platforms.

Blog  *  Facebook *  Instagram  * Pinterest  *  Youtube

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Hobbs Quilt Batting has manufactured high-quality batting for hobbyist, commercial, art and show quilters since 1978. They're proud to come from a family of quilters and are committed to providing the same quality Hobbs batting that provide to their own family of quilters. At Hobbs Batting, they never forget that quilts are gifts from the heart - an expression of love, commitment and caring for a specific recipient - or an expression of artistry and skill- artistry and that's submitted and judged in quilt shows and events around the word - or both! At Hobbs they're committed to doing their part to enhance our #JoyofQuilting!

Hobbsbatting.com  *  Blog  *  Instagram  *  Facebook  *  We hope you visiting Hobbs Quilt Batting!

For this week's Community Sampler Giveaway, Hobbs Batting is offering a lucky winner both here and on Instagram $50 worth of their wonderful batting! Maureen and I both love the quality of this batting, especially Hobbs line of Tuscany battings that includes Silk, Wool, Polester, and Cottons that add a soft, luxurious feel to any quilt!

Take a look at the wonderful properties of Hobbs Batting has to offer:

Chart courtesy of Hobbs Batting

Chart courtesy of Hobbs Batting

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For this week's Community Sampler giveaway one lucky winner will receive the Art Gallery Fabrics 10-pc bundle plus a $50 dollar Hobbs Batting gift certificate!

Giveaway now closed. Congratulations Lynne Tilley!

Note: This giveaway is open to EVERYONE! If you're a "no reply" or anonymous commenter, please remember to include your email address in your comment--you can't win if I can't get a hold of you!

1. Simply leave a comment here under this post! (First comment entry).

2. Follow both Art Gallery Fabrics AND Hobbs batting on one of their social media platforms (see links above). Just let me know that you did by making a separate comment here to record that entry. (Separate comment - second entry). 

3. My followers get a third entry! If you follow via subscribing to my posts, through Bloglovin (or other service), or on Instagram, just let me know by making a separate comment here to record that entry. (Separate comment - third entry). Note: I'm no longer on Facebook.

4. Help spread the word!! I know that many of you already do, so I thought it would be nice to add that as another way to enter! Spread the word about the Community Sampler on YOUR instagram, facebook, tweet, pin, blog post, etc... (separate comment - fourth entry). 

That’s FOUR possible entries! Enter now through Monday, May 28th! The winner will be picked at random around 4pm Eastern. I will post the name of the winner on this post once they've been notified and responded to my email.

Love,

Sharon